Calendar of events

MARCH 8

“Sunshine, Booze, and Monkeys: The Anthropology of Florida Tourism” by Jason Wenzel, professor of Anthropology at Valencia College is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on March 8 at Harry P. Leu Gardens. This presentation is free and open to the public. Contact Kevin Gidusko at [email protected] or 321-948-3994.

The Rollins MBA invites job seekers to “Take Control of Your Career — and Your Life” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on March 8 at the Busch Science Center at Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., in Winter Park. The free event will provide attendees the tools to reposition themselves and secure employment with a seminar featuring Marc Middleton of Growing Bolder. Visit tinyurl.com/your-career-and-life

MARCH 9

Morse Museum presents Celtic Crossings live from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 9. The event is free and includes a Celtic harp, flute and violin. There will be a free evening curator tour of the New Tiffany Wing at 7 p.m. that is available on a first-come first-serve basis to visitors.

Culture & Cocktails is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 9, both inside and outside of the A&H’s Germaine Marvel Building, 210 W. Packwood Ave., in Maitland. This month, the A&H features talented artist Parker Sketch. Sketch's paintings depict a variety of subjects ranging from images drawn from popular culture to an ever-growing personal iconography.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is proud to present the incomparable violinist Midori in performance with the Minnesota Orchestra. The concert takes place at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 9, at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre located at 401 W. Livingston St., in Orlando. Tickets are $14.75, $29, $39, $52 and $70. Visit OrlandoPhil.org.

Harpist Victoria Lynn Schultz plays at 11:30 a.m. on March 9 at University Club of Winter Park. Call 407-644-6149 or visit universityclubwinterpark.org.

MARCH 10

The 2012 Food & Wine Festival is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Baldwin Park Village Center. Tickets can be purchased online at orlando.cff.org

On March 10, the Maitland 's Woman's Club will hold its annual fashion show and luncheon at Maison & Jardin, 430 S. Wymore Road, in Altamonte Springs. Cost is $30 cash or check. For tickets call 407-539-0038 or 407-830-6373. MWC is a nonprofit organization. Proceeds go to our local charities.

The Junior League of Greater Orlando's Hoops for Hunger Charity Gala is from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 10. Tickets are available at jlgo.org for $75 per person. Cocktail attire is suggested. The event will include music and dancing, basketball-themed games, an auction and live coverage of "March Madness."

The Orlando/Winter Park Branch of American Association of University Women will host its annual Spring Literary Luncheon featuring Carol Frost, acclaimed author of 11 books of poetry, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, at The University Club of Winter Park, 841 N. Park Ave., in Winter Park. Price is $35 and reservations are required. To make reservation, please send check to Susan Hoke, 558 Oak Reserve Lane, Winter Park, FL 327892. More information is available at aauworlwp.org

MARCH 11

The fourth annual Sam Swope Charity Ride is Sunday, March 11, starting at the Bahia Shrine Temple, 2300 Pembrook Drive, in Orlando, and ending at Seminole Harley Davidson, 620 Hickman Circle, in Sanford, rain or shine. Sign in is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and it’s $30 to ride. Net proceeds will be donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

An artist reception featuring the Orlando Oriental Brush Painting Society, and honoring the many styles of Chinese painting, is from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 11 at the University Club of Winter Park. It’s free. Call 407-644-6149 or visit universityclubwinterpark.org.

Winter Park hosts the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra as they present Spring Pops “Masters of the Movies” at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, in Central Park in downtown Winter Park. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening of heartwarming music under the stars. This performance is made possible by a grant from the Charlotte Julia Hollander Trust. The event is free. To learn more please visit orlandophil.org or call the Philharmonic box office at 407-770-0071.

Lovers of architecture and political history are invited to tour Villa Serena, home of the late Sen. Paula Hawkins, hosted by her husband, Gene Hawkins, as a benefit for the Winter Park Public Library. The fundraiser is from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, and will feature narrated tours of the art and architecture in this fabulous Winter Park home, the opportunity to interact with Villa Serena architect and artist Chaz Williams, as well as the chance to view rare political memorabilia. Special guests U.S. Rep. John Mica, Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards, and Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley will be participating. Admission to the event is $75 per person or $125 per couple. All of profits from the sale of admissions will benefit the Library's Endowment Fund. Admission can be purchased by calling 407-623-3277. More information at wppl.org/info/news.html#hawkins.

MARCH 15 The Orange Audubon Society presents “Red-cockaded Woodpeckers: Repopulating the Disney Wilderness Preserve" by Jennifer Milikowsky at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, at Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., in Orlando. The program is free and no reservations are necessary. Call 407-637-2525 or visit orangeaudubonfl.org.

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce & Hannibal Square Merchants Association hosts “Hannibal Square Wine Tasting: The Fine Art of Wine” presented by The Volvo Store from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 15. It is located at West New England Avenue, between Pennsylvania and Virginia avenues. The cost is $20 for Chamber members in advance, $25 for non-members and $25 at the door. Call 407-644-8281 or visit winterpark.org.

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park presents the Takács Quartet and pianist Garrick Ohlsson featuring Schubert’s String Quartet No. 1, Ravel’s “String Quartet” and “Piano Quintet” by Shostakovich. It will begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, at the Tiedtke Concert Hall, Rollins College, at 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park. Tickets range from $30 to $40. Call 407-646-2182 or visit BachFestivalFlorida.org.

The American Legion, Winter Park Memorial Post 112, will host an "Open House" event in celebration of the American Legion's 93rd anniversary of its founding from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, at 4490 N. Goldenrod Road, in Winter Park. Call 407-671-6404.

ONGOING

The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday. It is located at the old train depot, at 200 W. New England Ave. For more information, visit CityofWinterPark.org

The Maitland Farmers’ Market is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday. It is located at Lake Lily Park. For more information, visit ItsMyMaitland.com or call 407-539-6268.

Food Truck Café is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Wednesday at Lake Lily Park in Maitland.

The Winter Park Food Truck Stop is located at 1127 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park, and is open for food trucks 24/7. Follow the site on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/FoodTruckStop

Music at the Casa is a free weekly open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays, featuring live performances and tours of the historic Casa Feliz, at 656 N. Park Ave., in Winter Park. For more information, visit CasaFeliz.us or call 407-628-8200 ext. 3. Upcoming performances include: Shannon Caine of Beautiful Music on Feb. 26.

Maitland’s Culture and Cocktails takes place the second Friday of every month until April, both inside and outside of the Maitland Art Center’s Germaine Marvel Building, located at 210 W. Packwood Ave. Guests are sure to enjoy this evening of art, music, poetry, food and fun. The schedule includes artist Andrew Spear, performing 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 13. For more information, call 407-539-2181 or visit ArtandHistory.org

The second Friday of every month, local residents will have the opportunity to meet the artists, enjoy live music and performances, while experiencing art and culture at the Maitland Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact [email protected]

Friday Nights at the Morse features free admission to the Morse Museum from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays through April 27. Occasional programs include live music, art demonstrations, curator tours and family tours. Visit morsemuseum.org

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens presents “Artful Strings: Four Centuries of Harp Making” through April 15. It provides visitors with behind-the-scene access into the International Harp Museum’s collection of rare and visually striking harps from antique to contemporary pieces. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, located at 633 Osceola Ave. in Winter Park, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 407-647-6294 or visit polasek.org

Self-taught and nationally recognized African-American artist Missionary Mary Proctor will speak at the opening reception for an exhibit of her highly distinctive work. The exhibit will be open through Saturday, April 21, and will be hosted at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park. The exhibit will showcase work from Proctor’s personal collection in Tallahassee, as well as the permanent collection from the Mennello Museum of American Art. The exhibit will culminate with the third Annual Hannibal Square Heritage Center Folk Art and Traditional Craft Festival on Saturday, April 21.

Three of today’s most noted American scholars in the fields of architecture and decorative arts will provide their insights into the splendor and mystery of Laurelton Hall, the most personal project of Tiffany’s career. The speakers include Architectural Historian Richard Guy Wilson on March 28. Admission is free. The lectures are being held at 2:30 p.m. on select Wednesdays in the Jeannette G. and Hugh F. McKean Pavilion, 161 W. Canton Ave., just behind the museum.

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center’s exhibit “BESA: A Code of Honor” will be at the Center until the end of March. It offers a glimpse into the lives of a people whose commitment to their faith requires them to act unselfishly even under the most dire circumstances.

The Art & History Museums — Maitland (A&H) proudly features the work of artist Molly Chism in the upcoming Exhibition EMERGE! Molly Chism through April 15. The exhibition is held in the Maitland Art Center Galleries, 231 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland.

The Winter Park Public Library is partnering with AARP to provide free tax help to people of all ages this tax season every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. through April 17 in the Library’s second floor literacy training room. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/taxhelpwp

The Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park presents the William Inge play, "Bus Stop", from March 2-19. Show times are at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. Call 407-920-4034. The Breakthrough Theatre is located at 419A W. Fairbanks Ave., in Winter Park.

The Winter Park Playhouse presents the Central Florida premiere of the hit musical comedy “The Andrews Brothers, The New '40s Musical”, playing March 2-24. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays; at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and at 2 p.m. on select Sundays (March 11 and March 18), and at 2 p.m. on March 22. For reservations, call The Winter Park Playhouse box office at 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org. The Winter Park Playhouse is located at 711 Orange Ave., Suite C, in Winter Park.

Visit wpmobserver.com/events for more details. Send submissions to [email protected]